Children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons.

Studying music primes the brain to comprehend speech in a noisy background. Children with learning disabilities or dyslexia who tend to lose focus with more noise could benefit greatly from music lessons.

Research shows that music is to the brain as physical exercise is to the human body. Music tones the brain for auditory fitness and allows it to decipher between tone and pitch.

Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education.

In the past, secondary students who participated in a music group at school reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs).

Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2 percent graduation rate and 93.9 percent attendance rate compared to schools without music education who average 72.9 percent graduation and 84.9 percent attendance.

Regardless of socioeconomic status or school district, students who participate in high-quality music programs score 22 percent better on English and 20 percent better on Math standardized exams.

Much like expert technical skills, mastery in arts and humanities is closely correlated to high earnings.

A study from Columbia University revealed that students who study arts are more cooperative with their teachers and peers, have higher levels self-confidence, and are more equipped to express themselves and their ideas.

Elementary age children who are involved in music lessons show greater brain development and memory improvement within a year than children who receive no musical training.

Learning and mastering a musical instrument improves the way the brain breaks down and understands human language, making music students more apt to pick up a second language.

THANK YOU for volunteering for the GBHS Music Department. It is important for us to track volunteer hours so that we can turn them into the school at the end of the school year. Please fill out the form below every time you volunteer. Thank you!

The new FEE REDUCTION PROGRAM is offered for the 2012 Marching Band season. Marching band is a EXPENSIVE and time consuming activity. We attend band camp, travel often, feed the members regularly, build props, maintain uniforms, etc. Some of these things just cost money, some of these things require volunteers! In an effort to reward parents for their volunteer work, we have put in place the FEE REDUCTION program. Below a detailed list of how it works, and how you can get involved.

The FEE REDUCTION program is for volunteering for NON-FUNDRAISING events. Example for this would be ... chaperoning, pit crew, uniform committee, dinner committee, prop building committee, truck committee, etc.

Details

$10 a hour will be paid for each adult volunteer hour they contribute.

Reduction will not exceed $100.

Parents need to volunteer for a pre-approved volunteer position. Limited positions available and it will be first come first serve.

Pre-approved volunteer positions will be listed in the charms calendar under volunteer sign-up. (helping hand)

All parents need to account for their volunteer hours by logging them into the Volunteer Hours Online Form.

$100 marching band fee can be extended for the school year, but June 1st is the deadline for the band camp deposit.

YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR VOLUNTEER HOURS ONLINE TO GET CREDIT FOR THEM. CLick the link below to submit your hours.

Thank you to those who have already signed up! We still have plenty of spots available!

Our 2nd annual Mom2Mom Sale is coming up on Saturday, April 20th. Last year’s sale was a huge success and we want to ensure that this year’s sale is even better! We will need several adult and student volunteers that day, including set up, tear down, large item area, entry, etc. WE WILL NEED MANY BAND STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP MOMS CARRY IN THEIR SALE ITEMS! Come on out and have fun while showing your “GBHS Band Pride” to the community! Please log into Charms and enter your information for the area you wish to volunteer. Thank you!!

We are also having a bake sale, so even if you can’t make it out on that day, please consider donating baked goods.

Congratulations to ALL students who auditioned for the 2013-2014 GBHS Wind Ensemble. We heard many wonderful players and listened to some great solos. Unfortunately, there are not enough positions for everyone. The results are posted on the WIND ENSEMBLE page of our website. Click like to congratulate those who auditioned.

Charms Recording Studio iTunes App! (Parent/Student portal!)Today marks a big milestone for Charms -- we have an iPhone / iPad / iDevice App, available for FREE through the iTunes store. This is a parent/student/member-side portal App -- but what's special about it is that, in addition to the informational button areas normally available for viewing, the CHARMS RECORDING STUDIO is part of it - at NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Yes, you can now record yourself with your iDevice, and even play along with accompaniments, and upload the file for review -- just like using a standard PC/Mac at home or school! The Charms Recording Studio is the ONLY online studio that merges your recording with an accompaniment track. Cool, eh?

Congratulations to all the members of the GBHS Jazz Band! Your performance was amazing! SUPERIOR ratings are also a nice ending to the evening. We are very proud of you and your accomplishments. Well done!

Congratulations to the GBHS Jazz Band for earning a superior rating at MSBOA State Jazz Festival tonight. The students had a great performance on stage and had a wonderful clinic with Professor John Nichol from CMU. Great job to all!

The Michigan Youth Arts Festival showcases outstanding high school artists in over 50 interactive, hands-on, educational rehearsals, workshops and master classes taught by distinguished working professionals in the arts. Nearly 20 performances and exhibitions are also an integral part of the Festival experience. The level of talent is extraordinary. Students are challenged and inspired not only by the Festival’s educational programming, but also by opportunities for interaction with other artistically gifted peers. Students are nominated by their outstanding performance at MSBOA State S&E. This year, DEVIN BINELLI was nominated to participate in the MYAF Honors Band. Joel McElwee, Hunter Prieur, Leah Underwood, and Matt Harrell were nominated for Outstanding Small Ensemble. CONGRATULATIONS to all these students!

As you all know, we have recently rebuilt and relocated the GBHS Band Website. We continue to add more and more content to it each day. We have recently added a SEARCH BOX to help you find the information you are looking for. Soon we will be adding videos and audio samples for you as well. Some of the areas are now password protected and we are happy to provide that to all our members and parents. To request the password, please fill out THIS FORM.

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS to the GBHS WInter Guard for their GREAT performance today at Troy Athens MCGC Show. The guard placed 2nd in their class, scoring a 74.06. This was the guards last performance before State Finals next weekend at SVSU. Grand Blanc is ranked 2nd in their class coming in to finals. We are very proud of your accomplishments this year, and wish you the best of luck next weekend.

Great job to all the students that participated in MSBOA State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Out of 20 students that participated, 17 performers received SUPERIOR ratings. We are all very proud of your accomplishments!

The GBHS Winter Guard performed their show, "Footprints in the Sand" at Huron Valley MCGC competition. The group scored a 72.20, taking 2nd in their class. (That is just 0.18 behind 1st place!) Great job everyone! They have another show tomorrow at Troy Athens! They perform at 1:06pm. Come check it out. This is the last show before State Finals. For a complete schedule of the Troy Athens show, CLICK HERE.

We just want to tell you about 2 simple fundraisers that keep providing funds throughout the year. It's simple, fast and really works. Last year we made over $1000 with this program.

Just go to THIS PAGE and either Create an account or login if you already have an account. Click on community, then click on “Kroger Community Rewards” over on the left Just follow their instructions. Our Organization # is 90769, Grand Blanc High School Band Dept. If you need help, just send an email to Dottie DeSantis at : ddesant55@gmail.com and she can help you get signed up today.

Also, if you are already signed up under the Band Program, please go back into your account sometime after 4/1/13 and make sure your rewards are still assigned to the Band Program. I have been told by Kroger’s that we need to go in and reassign our rewards at this time every year. Plus it wouldn’t hurt to check this periodically thru out the year to make sure your rewards are going where you want them to go.

VG's - Their receipts count toward cash for the band program. Please have the cashier scan your discount card & the "Community Share Points" will show up toward the bottom of your receipt. Just put the receipts in an envelope, label it "VG's receipt" and then put in the Scrip box attached to the wall located in band room near the outside exit doors.

Congratulations to Michael Hamilton (snare), Jacob Rechsteiner (tenors), Khalid Malik (snare), and Devin Johnson (tuba), all contracted with the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2013 season. Great job! CLICK HERE to see their summer schedule, and see where you can catch them at a show! Their first Michigan Show is in Kalamazoo on June 25. CLICK HERE for show and ticket information.

Auditions for the 2013 all-school musical took place on February 20 and 21. 45 students auditioned for roles in “High School Musical. Thirty students were cast and have been hard at work acting, singing, and dancing. Grand Blanc High School is home to very talented students! Orchestra Pit members are Mr. Jacob Finkbeiner, Mrs. Sarah Stockton, Mr. Dave Boze, Warren Lissner, Chris Wilson, Cameron Varner and Alex Hannah. The “Pit” is conducted by Mr. Cory Hutchison. Performance dates are April 25th, 26th and 27th. Stay tuned for more information!

FLINT, MI -- The Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m., March 27 at The Whiting.“FYSO will cover a lot of musical ground for this concert with classics like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, music from old-time western movies, and even an opera,” according to a release from FYSO.The Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Flint School of Performing Arts Director, Davin Pierson Torre, includes more than 80 musicians from 25 zip code areas throughout the mid-Michigan region, including Saginaw, Davison, Goodrich, Lapeer, Grand Blanc, Owosso, Millington, and Flushing.Ticket prices for the performance at The Whiting are $12 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and under. Go to The Whiting's website for the event to purchase tickets.

Tomorrow, Monday, March 18, 2103 at 7pm there will be an additional booster meeting. The upcoming “Sweet Sounds of Jazz” will be the topic. Everyone is invited to attend! This is an amazing event that takes A LOT of work to make happen. Please come and support our jazz band! See you tomorrow!

Our 2nd annual Mom2Mom Sale is coming up on Saturday, April 20th. Last year’s sale was a huge success and we want to ensure that this year’s sale is even better! We will need several adult and student volunteers that day, including set up, tear down, large item area, entry, etc. WE WILL NEED MANY BAND STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP MOMS CARRY IN THEIR SALE ITEMS! Come on out and have fun while showing your “GBHS Band Pride” to the community! Please LOG ON TO CHARMS and enter your information for the area you wish to volunteer. Thank you!!

We are also having a bake sale, so even if you can’t make it out on that day, please consider donating baked goods